2002 Irish Masters

February 2020 February 2020 Irish Masters 2002 03 19 2002 03 24 y Citywest Hotel Saggart, Dublin Ireland WPBSA Non-Ranking event €251,000 €100,000 John Higgins SCO (140) John Higgins SCO Peter Ebdon ENG 10–3 2001 2003 The 2002 Irish Masters (known as the 2002 Citywest Irish Masters for sponsorship reasons) was a professional invitational snooker tournament which was held at the Citywest Hotel in Saggart, Dublin, from 19 to 24 March. It was the 25th edition of the Irish Masters and the fourth and final World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) invitational event of the 2001–02 season; it followed the third invitational event, the 2002 Masters, held in February. The tournament was co-sponsored by the Citywest hotel group and the Department of Health and Children and broadcast by RTÉ. Third-ranked John Higgins won the competition, defeating the world number seven Peter Ebdon ten frame frames to three (10–3) in the final. It was Higgins' second Irish Masters victory, his fourth in a tournament that season and the 24th of his career. In the semi-finals Higgins defeated Matthew Stevens 6–5 and Ebdon won 6–3 over Ken Doherty. Higgins produced the tournament's highest break of 140 in the eighth frame of his semi-final match against Stevens to earn €5,000 and a further €100,000 for winning the event. Background Founded in 1978 by the Benson & Hedges tobacco company as the Republic of Ireland's major snooker event, the Irish Masters originated as a snooker challenge match and became an elimination tournament.Turner Chris Irish Masters http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/irishmast.html https://web.archive.org/web/20120216155735/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/irishmast.html 16 February 2012 Chris Turner's Snooker Archive 18 November 2010 The 2002 competition was the 25th edition of the competition,https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/o-sullivan-leads-star-cast-1.1050966 O'Sullivan leads star cast 19 February 2002 The Irish Times 19 April 2020 live https://web.archive.org/web/20200419190852/https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/o-sullivan-leads-star-cast-1.1050966 19 April 2020 and the fourth and final World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) invitational event of the 2001–02 season. As an invitational event, it did not carry world ranking points.21 March 2002 Birthday Boy Williams Edged Out in Dublin http://www.htvwales.com/snooker/news/210302_irish_masters2.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20020613204852/http://www.htvwales.com/snooker/news/210302_irish_masters2.htm 13 June 2002 29 September 2020 HTV Wales It featured a 12-player main draw held at the Citywest Hotel in Saggart, Dublin, from 19 to 24 March,Citywest Irish Masters 2002 http://www.snooker.org/Trn/0102/im2002_res.shtml Snooker.org 15 February 2020 live https://web.archive.org/web/20191020205531/http://www.snooker.org/TRN/0102/im2002_res.shtml 20 October 2019 and was co-sponsored by the hotel group Citywest and the Department of Health and Children.Ronnie Aims For Irish Repeat http://worldsnooker.com/snooker_media_centre/irish_masters2002/articleshow.asp?articleID=688&category=56 World Snooker 19 March 2002 15 February 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20021223144539/http://worldsnooker.com/snooker_media_centre/irish_masters2002/articleshow.asp?articleID=688&category=56 23 December 2002 dead It had a prize fund of €251,000,Prize Money Breakdown http://worldsnooker.com/snooker_media_centre/irish_masters2002/money.asp World Snooker 15 February 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20020820192644/http://worldsnooker.com/snooker_media_centre/irish_masters2002/money.asp 20 August 2002 dead and the host broadcaster was RTÉ. A total of 12 players competed in the Irish Masters: the top eleven players in the world rankings, and a wild card entry, the world number sixteen, Fergal O'Brien.Murray Shane https://www.rte.ie/sport/snooker/2002/0218/162198-snooker/ Irish Masters details announced 18 February 2002 15 February 2002 live RTÉ Sport https://web.archive.org/web/20200215203250/https://www.rte.ie/sport/snooker/2002/0218/162198-snooker/ 15 February 2020 Each of the 12 players were seeded, with the first seed being Ronnie O'Sullivan, the 2001 Irish Masters winner, and the reigning UK and world champion. Steve Davis, the eight-time Irish Masters winner, missed the event for the first time since the 1986 tournament because he fell to 21st in the world rankings and was not given a wild card.Yates Phil https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A83999386/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=364d71aa No place for Davis at the top table; Snooker 19 March 2002 The Times 15 February 2020 43 Gale Academic OneFile subscription The maximum number of frame frames played in a match increased from 11 in the first round, the quarter-finals and the semi-finals to the best-of-19 frames final on 24 March.Citywest Irish Masters 2002 http://www.worldofsnooker.co.uk/invitational/irishmasters02.htm World of Snooker 15 February 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20020623132850/http://www.worldofsnooker.co.uk/invitational/irishmasters02.htm 23 June 2002 dead Prize money The breakdown of prize money for the 2002 tournament is listed below. Winner: €100,000 Runner-up: €38,000 Semi-final (×2): €19,000 Quarter-final (×4): €10,000 First-round (×4): €7,500 Highest break (×1): €5,000 Total: €251,000 Tournament summary Round 1 The first round of the tournament was held from 19 to 20 March as best-of-11 frame matches.Citywest Irish Masters http://www.110sport.com/snooker/cont/php/utils/displaypage.php?page=/snooker/cont/trn/sched/irishmastersoop02.php 110Sport 15 February 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20020421090902/http://www.110sport.com/snooker/cont/php/utils/displaypage.php?page=%2Fsnooker%2Fcont%2Ftrn%2Fsched%2Firishmastersoop02.php 21 April 2002 dead World number eight Stephen Lee defeated the reigning Masters champion Paul Hunter 6–4 in their third meeting of the season.http://www.110sport.com/snooker/cont/art/na05301.php Lee Foxes Hunter To End Dublin Drought Hendon David 19 March 2002 110Sport dead https://web.archive.org/web/20030523042858/http://www.110sport.com/snooker/cont/art/na05301.php 23 May 2003 15 February 2020Francis Allen https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A84008154/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=413d3d68 Snooker: Lee to face familiar foe 20 March 2002 The Independent 15 February 2020 25 Gale General OneFile subscription The match was equalled at 3–3 and then 4–4 before Lee compiled break breaks of 72 and 88 to go through to the quarter-finals. Lee said he had worked to improve his technique and was pleased with it. World number seven Peter Ebdon won 6–2 against world championship semi-finalist Joe Swail. Ebdon compiled breaks of 120 and 81 to move clear of Swail and win the match—this after Swail had missed a red ball that would have allowed him to win the fifth frame. Both players agreed that Swail's error was the game's turning point.http://worldsnooker.com/snooker_media_centre/irish_masters2002/articleshow.asp?articleID=772&category=56 Crucial Miss Puts Swail in the Red 20 March 2002 World Snooker dead https://web.archive.org/web/20020406093822/http://worldsnooker.com/snooker_media_centre/irish_masters2002/articleshow.asp?articleID=772&category=56 6 April 2002 15 February 2020 Matthew Stevens won 6–5 over Jimmy White, who made his 20th successive appearance in the Irish Masters.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/1884361.stm Stevens and Hendry cruise 20 March 2002 BBC Sport live https://web.archive.org/web/20200215203301/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/1884361.stm 15 February 2020 15 February 2020 Ahead 3–1, Stevens fell 4–3 behind White at the mid-session interval after he produced breaks of 106 and 102 and a clearance of 65 to the black ball.http://www.110sport.com/snooker/cont/art/na05306.php Today Defeat, Tomorrow The World For Jimmy Hendon David 20 March 2002 110Sport dead https://web.archive.org/web/20020421054955/http://www.110sport.com/snooker/cont/art/na05306.php 21 April 2002 15 February 2020 White missed a red to win the match while on a break of 62 and Stevens made a 58 clearance to the pink ball. Stevens missed the black and White pot potted it to force a final frame, which Stevens won 75–14. Stephen Hendry, the seven-time world champion, took a 6–2 victory over O'Brien. Leading 2–1 with a break of 74, O'Brien was tied when Hendry produced a 112 break. Hendry then made breaks of 98 and 100 en route to his win as O'Brien accumulated 41 points in that time.Price Gerald https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A84045249/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=63aa481c Hendry's centuries are enough 21 March 2002 The Herald 15 February 2020 34 Gale OneFile: News subscription Quarter-finals The four best-of-11 frame quarter-finals took place from 21 to 22 March with the first-round winners playing one of the top four seeds. Ebdon was the first player through to the semi-finals when he defeated world number one Mark Williams 6–4. He took a 5–2 lead from breaks of 110, 77 and 113 along with a 93 clearance. Williams reduced the deficit to 5–4 before a miss on the black in the tenth frame allowed Ebdon to win the match.Murray Shane https://www.rte.ie/sport/snooker/2002/0321/162944-snooker/ Ebdon secures possible semi clash with Doherty 21 March 2002 15 February 2020 live RTÉ Sport https://web.archive.org/web/20200215215325/https://www.rte.ie/sport/snooker/2002/0321/162944-snooker/ 15 February 2020 Ken Doherty played Lee in the second quarter-final. Lee achieved the match's top break of 90 as he drew the score at 2–2 and forced a re-spotted black after Doherty was out of position on the pink. Lee missed his target and Doherty took frame five before it went to 4–3 after Doherty incurred five fouls from being snooker snookered on the green ball in the seventh. Lee took two of the following three frames to claim a 6–4 victory.McHenry Bruce https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A84082345/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=d4c10af3 Doherty homes in on glory in Dublin 22 March 2002 The Scotsman 15 February 2020 13 Gale OneFile: News subscription The third quarter-final was played between Hendry and John Higgins, the world number three.Hendon David https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A84118622/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=9afda954 Sport in brief: Snooker 23 March 2002 The Guardian 19 April 2020 19 Gale General OneFile subscription Breaks of 72, 131 and 96 gave Higgins a 3–1 lead before Hendry compiled a 64 run and a 137 total clearance to tie at 3–3. Higgins increased his lead to 5–3 with breaks of 54, 67 and 43 until Hendry made it 5–4 with a break of 65. He took a 6–4 win after tactical play in frame ten.http://www.110sport.com/snooker/cont/art/na05316.php Hendry Sick Over Crucial Kick Hendon David 22 March 2002 110Sport dead https://web.archive.org/web/20030923040602/http://www.110sport.com/snooker/cont/art/na05316.php 23 September 2003 16 February 2020 Stevens defeated O'Sullivan 6–2 to claim the fourth semi-final spot. His victory saw him produce breaks of 68, 66 and 120 and accumulate 358 points without reply as O'Sullivan's best contributions were breaks of 103 and 88. At the post-match press conference, O'Sullivan gave monosyllabic answers to questions and stated the result was not the consequence of him fracturing his right hand in a game of association football the week before.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/1888725.stm Stevens masters O'Sullivan 22 March 2002 BBC Sport 16 February 2021 Semi-finals Both semi-finals were held as best-of-11 frames on 23 March. Doherty and Ebdon played in the first match, which lasted more than four hours.https://www.rte.ie/sport/snooker/2002/0323/162987-dohertyk/ Doherty bows out at semi stage Murray Shane 23 March 2002 RTÉ Sport live https://web.archive.org/web/20200216083335/https://www.rte.ie/sport/snooker/2002/0323/162987-dohertyk/ 16 February 2020 16 February 2020 The match was tied at 3–3, as Ebdon made breaks of 104, 84 and 62 and missed the final red ball in frame seven while trying to achieve a maximum break.http://www.worldsnooker.com/snooker_media_centre/irish_masters2002/articleshow.asp?articleID=782&category=56 Irish Eyes Aren't Smiling As Ken Goes Out 23 March 2002 World Snooker dead https://web.archive.org/web/20020614031640/http://www.worldsnooker.com/snooker_media_centre/irish_masters2002/articleshow.asp?articleID=782&category=56 14 June 2002 16 February 2020 After the mid-session interval, Doherty accumulated a total of 73 points as he was unable to respond to Ebdon who won 6–3. Ebdon commented afterwards that the match was untidy and he could not make high breaks. He said he was happy to reach the final because the Irish Masters was one of his favourite competitions since he had won it in 1995.http://www.110sport.com/snooker/cont/art/na05319.php Doherty Dumped Out in Dublin Hendon David 23 March 2002 110Sport dead https://web.archive.org/web/20030511091104/http://www.110sport.com/snooker/cont/art/na05319.php 11 May 2003 16 February 2020 Doherty said his technique was sub-par, and the match disappointed himself and the spectators: "It was hard to get into it and when you’re not playing well you lose control of the cue ball and make all sort of mistakes.” thumb|right|upright|alt= John Higgins looking at the camera |John Higgins (pictured in 2008), who won his second Irish Masters title The other semi-final was contested by Higgins and Stevens. Stevens took a 3–0 lead before he had a cling on the brown ball and allowed Higgins to win five frames in succession including a total clearance of 140 in frame eight, the tournament's highest break. Stevens equalled the score at 5–5 to force a final frame; Higgins won it with a break of 42 for a 6–5 victory.http://www.worldsnooker.com/snooker_media_centre/irish_masters2002/articleshow.asp?articleID=783&category=56 Higgins Builds On Lucky Break 24 March 2002 World Snooker dead https://web.archive.org/web/20020614031618/http://www.worldsnooker.com/snooker_media_centre/irish_masters2002/articleshow.asp?articleID=783&category=56 14 June 2002 16 February 2020 Higgins said he was fortunate to have qualified for the final because he noted that Stevens would have led 4–0 had he not made an error early in the match: "It was very unlucky but it was up to me to take advantage and I managed to do that, despite letting it slip at 5–3." Final The final between Ebdon and Higgins on 24 March was contested over two sessions as a best-of-19 frames match. It marked Higgins' 38th professional tournament final; going into the match, Ebdon had won 8 of his 13 previous meetings against Higgins.https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A84168139/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=aec6dfb7 Higgins touches heights to leave Ebdon reeling; Snooker 25 March 2002 The Times 16 February 2020 26 Gale Academic OneFile subscription The first session saw Higgins move into a 7–2 lead from breaks of 91, 109, 78 and two clearances of 55 and 62 to the brown ball. After the match resumed play, Higgins took the first frame of the evening session before Ebdon won frame 11 with a break of 64 to trail 3–8. Higgins then claimed the next two frames to win the game 10–3 and the tournament.Murray Shane Higgins stuns Ebdon to win Irish Masters https://www.rte.ie/sport/snooker/2002/0324/163015-irishmasters1/ RTÈ Sport 24 March 2002 16 February 2020 live https://web.archive.org/web/20200216092507/https://www.rte.ie/sport/snooker/2002/0324/163015-irishmasters1/ 16 February 2020 It was the Higgins' second Irish Masters win; he won 9–4 against Hendry in the 2000 tournament. Higgins won his fourth title of the season after the Champions Cup, the Scottish Masters and the British Open,Snooker: Higgins happy from Dublin triumph https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A84170638/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=7603ff88 Birmingham Evening Mail 25 March 2002 16 February 2020 56 Gale OneFile: News subscription and the 24th of his career. Higgins earned €100,000 for winning the competition and another €5,000 for making the highest break of 140 over Stevens in the semi-finals.http://worldsnooker.com/snooker_media_centre/irish_masters2002/articleshow.asp?articleID=784&category=56 Higgins Back To Winning Ways 24 March 2002 World Snooker dead https://web.archive.org/web/20020820192612/http://worldsnooker.com/snooker_media_centre/irish_masters2002/articleshow.asp?articleID=784&category=56 20 August 2002 16 February 2020 He said he was delighted to win the tournament for a second time,https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/it-s-child-s-play-for-da-higgins-1.1055000 It's child's play for da Higgins 25 March 2002 The Irish Times 16 February 2020 live https://web.archive.org/web/20200216134608/https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/it-s-child-s-play-for-da-higgins-1.1055000?mode=sample&auth-failed=1&pw-origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.irishtimes.com%2Fsport%2Fit-s-child-s-play-for-da-higgins-1.1055000 16 February 2020 and said the victory would make him confident for the 2002 World Championship because he had a poor form over the prior months: "Winning there isn't easy when you're not sure of your game but this is a real boost for me'." Ebdon said of his defeat: "John is one of the finest match-players the game has ever seen and I was never going to beat him playing like that. I've got a very good record against him but it counts for nothing if you don't play well enough. It's a shame I couldn't make more of a match of it but I've beaten some good players this week so I can take the positives."Snooker: Higgins rides his luck to victory https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A84138971/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=4d87718d Birmingham Post 25 March 2002 16 February 2020 Gale OneFile: News subscription 26 He added: "I was outclassed." Main draw Players in bold denote match winners.Irish Masters http://www.snookerscene.co.uk/page.php?id=25 Snooker Scene 21 November 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20130124071613/http://www.snookerscene.co.uk/page.php?id=25 24 January 2013 Round 1Best of 11 frames Quarter-finalsBest of 11 frames Semi-finalsBest of 11 frames FinalBest of 19 frames 5 Stephen Hendry SCO 6 12 Fergal O'Brien IRL 2 6 Matthew Stevens WAL 6 11 Jimmy White ENG 5 7 Peter Ebdon ENG 6 10 Joe Swail NIR 2 8 Stephen Lee ENG 6 9 Paul Hunter ENG 4 3 SCO John Higgins 6 5 SCO Stephen Hendry 4 6 WAL Matthew Stevens 6 1 ENG Ronnie O'Sullivan 2 7 ENG Peter Ebdon 6 2 WAL Mark Williams 4 4 IRL Ken Doherty 6 8 ENG Stephen Lee 4 3 SCO John Higgins 6 6 WAL Matthew Stevens 5 7 ENG Peter Ebdon 6 4 IRL Ken Doherty 3 3 SCO John Higgins 10 7 ENG Peter Ebdon 3 Final The bold text denotes each of the winning frame scores and the winning entrant. Breaks over 50 are shown in brackets. Final: Best of 19 frames.Citywest Hotel, Dublin, Republic of Ireland, 24 March 2002.John Higgins 10–3Peter Ebdon Afternoon: 91 (91)–39, 61–14, 46–71, 63–2, 133–4 (109), 56 (56)–66 (55), 69 (69)–62 (62), 78 (78)–0, 61 (55)–30Evening: 87–18, 19–94 (64), 79 (79)–0, 78–39 109 Highest break 79 1 Century breaks 0 7 50+ breaks 3 Century breaks There were a total of 14 century breaks made by 6 different players during the tournament. The highest break of 140 was achieved by Higgins in the 8th frame of his semi-final match with Stevens.2002 Irish Masters http://www.azbilliards.com/snooker/2001-02/02irishmasters.html AZ Billiards 11 October 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20030514132918/http://www.azbilliards.com/snooker/2001-02/02irishmasters.html 14 May 2003 dead 140, 131, 109 John Higgins 137, 112, 100 Stephen Hendry 120, 113, 110, 104 Peter Ebdon 120 Matthew Stevens 106, 102 Jimmy White 103 Ronnie O'Sullivan References 30em Irish Masters Irish Masters Irish Masters Category:Irish Masters